Beneath the Shadow of a Doubt - Chapter 7 - ~Blanc-ed out~
Title: Beneath the Shadow of a Doubt
Author: Max - unatral_kreatur
Rating: PG+
Prompt: M/M relations, mild discrimination/prejudice, mild coarse language
Category: Silent Hill Fan Fiction
Disclaimers: Amateur writing, do forgive me! I just spit out thoughts and don't really check them!
Status: In development.
Summary: Daniel's birthday date takes a turn for the worse.
Prequel/Sequel: Sequel in development
Feedback: Yes, please.
Chapter 7 - ~Blanc-ed out~
“You have to tell me!” Daniel whined as Jared backed the busted old Volvo out of the garage, “I’m in my best rags, you have to tell me!”
“Ah, but that would take the fun out of it, no?” Jared was in the sharpest clothes Daniel had ever seen him in, hence Daniel had made a point of it by giving Jared a subtle spank on their way out.
Daniel pouted and crossed his arms playfully, “You know the punishment for deception is?”
“I can venture a guess and I look forward to it” Jared replied, raising his eyebrow.
Within ten minutes they were back in the hustle of traffic that could only belong to the inner city of Brahms. Twilight had fallen so the streets turned into a Christmas tree of white and yellow streetlights.
“Close your eyes!” Jared instructed, “Come on, please?”
So Daniel reluctantly did as he was told, and after three minutes of can I open them now the car pulled up followed by the death of the engines curt growl.
“Can I-”
“Yes! You can open your eyes!”
He was a bit disappointed to see that it was just a dimly lit carpark. He looked around to see that theirs was the ugliest car in the place.
“You coming?” asked Jared, who Daniel had not even realised had left the car. They took an elevator out of the carpark. As they stepped out Jared apologized for the fact that he could not have afforded a valet.
“What are you talking abou-” but fell silent as they turned the corner.
Across the street, above two large oak doors, was a 6-foot long white rose with the word Blanc painted in elegant letters beneath it.
“I know how much you love French food they just had their Grande Opening Monday.”
“Well now I know why you can’t afford a valet,” Daniel said with a smile and pulled him in for a hug, “thank you!”
It wasn’t long before they had entered the flashy restaurant, were directed to their table and were ordering wine. Jared ordered a bottle of Chteau Margaux.
“Jeez Jared, are we going to afford the main course?” he said with a laugh. Daniel would have to empty his wallet to pay for just the wine, let alone the rest of the meal.
The waiter came back a few minutes later and both Jared and Daniel ordered meals they could not pronounce. Daniel dropped his menu on the side of the table, apologizing immediately to the waiter before he leaned over to pull the menu out from under his chair.
“Gay couples? I thought this was going to be a respectable restaurant!” Daniel heard the waiter say. He shot up immediately, narrowly missing the table corner.
“I beg your pardon!” Daniel growled quietly.
“Sorry sir?” the waiter asked, looking quite stunned.
“You just said-”
“Um Daniel, he didn’t say anything!” Jared interrupted in a very confused tone.
Daniel stuttered as the waiter swooped off as quick as he could.
“Poof” the waiters voice was clear as if he was right next to him. The only thing was he was five tables away. Daniel turned to his boyfriend, whose expression was almost as utterly confused as Daniel himself. Jared raised his eyebrow, his face was a mix of I’m Worried About You Babe and What The Fuck Dude!
Actually, Daniel heard those very words, clear as crystal. Except the only movement in Jared’s face was a raised eyebrow. Not a speaking mouth.
Daniel’s mouth dropped a little, “Huh…”
“What?”
“Er… Uh, nothing…”
“Ok babe, are you all right? Things have been less than normal since this morning,” Jared tried to console once more.
“You mean the part where I told you my father tried to murder me?” Daniel asked, blushing violently.
“No, the part where our sink blew and you started babbling like it was your fault!”
“The sink thing was just-“ Daniel stopped short. Mainly because Jared hadn’t said that. Not aloud. Instead they stared at each other for about a minute. It was the longest minute in history!
“Um, this is getting…” Daniel began.
“Weird!” Jared finished.
But really I should say something to the lines of what the fuck!
“Stop it!”
“What?”
What the fuck is going on?
“Not another thought… please?”
“Can I at least speak?”
“I would prefer it,” replied Daniel who was now shaking. Their conversation had drawn the attention of some of the other customers.
What’sGottenIntoHim-AreTheyACouple-HeBetterHushDownSoonOrI’ll-
Daniel pressed his fingers against his temples, groaning.
“Are you ok?” asked Jared, seeing that Daniel was obviously in pain.
“I’m fine” he replied. He stopped rubbing his temples, not because the pain was gone, it was in fact intensifying, but so that Jared would not worry.
“Alright let’s start again,” Jared began carefully, “I can see that there is something wrong. I don’t really think I understand but you need to share it with me. I am here for you but there is little point in that if you cut me out!”
“I honestly don’t know what to say”
Oh I just want to help. Please let me in, why won’t you let me in?
“I want to let you in it’s just- ” and there it was again, answering a question that had obviously not been posed.
“That right there, what was that?” asked Jared alarmed, “Maybe you’re just well tuned into my feelings but I could have sworn that I was thinking the very question you replied to.”
“I… Uh… Um,” Daniel was totally incapable of composing a reply. He just couldn’t speak!
Man this is too weird. But he can’t know what I’m thinking! This isn’t the Twilight Zone!
Daniel couldn’t bear this, so he did possibly the stupidest thing he could think of.
“You’ve always hated the Twilight Zone…” he trailed off. He couldn’t look at Jared, he couldn’t accept what kind of response he would get.
If you can hear what I’m thinking… I was considering just ordering the veil!
“Why on earth would you order veil?” Daniel asked terrified.
“Oh, my God!” Jared choked, “You- But I- Can’t- Doesn’t- ”
“-make any fucking sense” Daniel whispered. He began to cry, silently sobbing into his palms. He flinched when fingers brushed the back of his hands. He raised his teary eyes and looked directly into Jared’s, “What am I?”
“Mine!” he said taking Daniel’s hands, “You’re mine and I don’t know what’s happening but I’m right here. I’m scared shitless and I can’t make any sense out of this but I’m here and we’re going to be fine.”
“How can you be so calm though? I can’t believe after I pull an Allison Dubois on you you can pull yourself together like that and ‘be there for me’” Daniel feared he was sounding offensive but it was the truth. Who could possibly believe what he was doing, let alone try to pull a line from Dr. Phil.
“It’s pretty obvious isn’t it? I love you! What could possibly make me feel any less than that?”
“Thanks Romeo,” Daniel said with a sniffle, “And I’ll tell you what, I’m glad these tables aren’t closer together. Imagine what this would sound like from another table?”
Jared chuckled, raising his hands to kiss Daniel’s.
Aww that is so sweet! It’s so nice to see an open gay couple!
Daniel looked up next to him to see a pretty short-haired blonde woman with a platter who the voice had belonged to. He did not however believe she had said it out loud. With great strain they kept their calm as she gave Jared his meal.
“I apologize sir, but your’s hasn’t finished yet, I’m sure it will be ready in no time!”
“That’s fine. Don’t worry.”
She nodded and left. What a nice couple.
“Remind me to tip her when she comes back!” Daniel asked Jared with a smile. Jared didn’t ask why, he thought he outta save questions for when they got home.
“So what you got there anyway?” Daniel asked, trying to lighten the mood. Jared had been so good to him, he deserved a bit of pleasant conversation.
“I honestly don’t remember. The name’s a bit distracting isn’t it?” he said as he took up his knife and fork. He cut up some of the meat, soaked it in sauce and raised it to Daniel, “Want some?”
Daniel smiled, leant forward and opened his mouth. He closed his mouth on the fork but before he knew what he was tasting a pain hit his temples like a hammer to each side. He gasped and hence choked on whatever Jared was trying to feed him.
“Is it really that bad?” Jared joked as Daniel cleared his throat. The humour disappeared as soon as Jared saw that it was not the food that was the source of the problem.
“Hey, hey what’s wrong?”
“I can hear them… everyone. It hurts. I need out!”
YouSaidThat-IamNotTheMechanicIUsedTo-BeleiveMeThat’sNotWhatI-MeanMeanMeanLittleMean-BoyOhBoyWillYouLookAt-ThisHere-
He got up, swaying so badly he had to brace himself on the table. “It hurts. It hurts.”
IsHeDrunkHe-LooksLikeAPileOf-CrapIsHeHigh-
The world was spinning, the restaurant was a blur, and the only sounds he could make sense of were the hundred voices in his head.
“It Hurts… It…” and just like that the world screeched to a halt, so fast it through Daniel off his feet. He didn’t even feel himself hit the ground.